The police have charged a 25-year-old Manhattan man with the slaying of a 9-year-old New Jersey boy in the early morning hours Saturday in Morningside Heights. The motive? Apparently, a squabble over a video game.

The 9-year-old, Anthony Maldonado of Palisades Park, N.J., was stabbed repeatedly in the chest. He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital where he survived for just under an hour. He was declared dead there at 4:19 a.m.

Alejandro Morales, 25, of the above address was charged with murder and illegal weapons possession. Citing law enforcement officials, the New York Times reported that the child was allegedly stabbed by Morales when he was left alone with the man as others went to buy food.

The New York Post reported that Morales had a history of mental illness. He was on parole after serving two years in prison for assault. And he had several other open cases, begging the question: why was he on the street?